Anti-LGBT Buddy Collins, five other nominees, confirmed as new State Board of Education members

In a joint session in the House chamber yesterday, six of Gov. McCrory’s picks to serve on the State Board of Education were confirmed by the General Assembly, including A.L. “Buddy” Collins, who was exposed for his history of opposing efforts to protect LGBT students against bullying.

Collins, who was seated in the gallery to accept his inevitable confirmation, watched the debate below as Rep. Luebke (D-Durham) brought forth an amendment to remove his name from the list of nominees. Luebke cited the bi-partisan school safety legislation before the assembly and said “Mr. Collins does not care about the safety of all young people.”

According to the Huffington Post[1], when Collins sat on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board he always opposed any type of policies that would specifically protect LGBT students from bullying. Collins also published a column in 2002 in the Winston-Salem Journal[2] that said while all students should be protected from bullying, he would not endorse any policy that embraced the sexual practices of LGBT students. Pro-LGBT Equality NC called for McCrory to renege his nominee, to no avail.

Luebke’s amendment did not pass although he did have several supporters.

Immediately following the joint session, the State Board of Education held their monthly meeting Wednesday and Thursday. Collins was elected vice chair of the Board. Former North Carolina congressman and state Republican Party chief Bill Cobey was elected chairman.